By : Khawar Nehal
khawar@atrc.net.pk
Date : 28 March 2025
Course Title: Understanding Artificial Intelligence – A Foundational Course
Duration: 4-6 Weeks (Flexible)
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Module 1: Introduction to AI
Topics:
- What is AI? (Definitions & Key Concepts)
- History & Evolution of AI
- Types of AI: Narrow AI vs. General AI vs. Superintelligence
- Real-world Applications (Healthcare, Finance, Education, etc.)
- Myths vs. Realities of AI
Activities:
- Discussion: “Where do you encounter AI in daily life?”
- Case Study: AI in a familiar industry (e.g., Netflix recommendations, Siri/Alexa)
Module 2: How AI Works – Core Concepts
Topics:
- Machine Learning (ML) Basics
- Supervised vs. Unsupervised vs. Reinforcement Learning
- Neural Networks & Deep Learning (Simplified)
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) & Computer Vision
- Data’s Role in AI (Training, Testing, Bias)
Activities:
- Interactive Demo: Play with a simple ML model (e.g., Google’s Teachable Machine)
- Group Exercise: Identify AI vs. Non-AI systems
Module 3: Ethical & Societal Implications
Topics:
- Bias & Fairness in AI
- Privacy Concerns (Data Collection, Surveillance)
- Job Disruption & Future of Work
- AI in Misinformation (Deepfakes, ChatGPT-generated content)
- Regulations & Responsible AI (EU AI Act, AI Ethics Principles)
Activities:
- Debate: “Should AI decisions be transparent?”
- Case Study: Facial recognition controversies
Module 4: AI in Everyday Life
Topics:
- AI in Social Media (Algorithms, Content Moderation)
- Smart Assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)
- AI in Healthcare (Diagnostics, Drug Discovery)
- Autonomous Vehicles & Robotics
- AI for Creativity (Art, Music, Writing)
Activities:
- Hands-on: Use an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL-E) for a task
- Group Project: Propose an AI solution for a community problem
Module 5: Hands-On AI Exploration
Topics:
- No-Code AI Tools (e.g., Lobe, Runway ML)
- Prompt Engineering for Generative AI
- How to Evaluate AI Tools Critically
- Future Trends (Quantum AI, AGI, AI Safety)
Activities:
- Lab: Create a simple AI chatbot or image classifier
- Final Project: Present an AI use case (positive/negative impact)
Assessment & Certification
- Quizzes per module
- Participation in discussions/activities
- Final project presentation
- Optional: Badge/certificate of completion
Recommended Tools/Resources:
- Google’s AI Experiments
- Kaggle (for datasets)
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT & DALL-E
- IBM’s AI Ethics Toolkit
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